Former Manchester United striker Wayne Rooney believes Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca is playing a dangerous game.
Rooney suggests the manager has put himself in a weak position by criticizing the club’s leadership.
This warning follows cryptic remarks Maresca made over the weekend.
The “Worst 48 Hours”
The controversy started after Chelsea’s win over Everton on Saturday. Maresca made a surprising admission.
He described the build-up to the match as the “worst 48 hours” of his tenure. This covers his time since taking charge at Stamford Bridge in June 2024.
Rooney analyzed the situation on his program, The Wayne Rooney Show. He argued that Maresca calculated these remarks. Specifically, Rooney believes the manager targeted the club’s ownership.
He noted that the Chelsea hierarchy will undoubtedly realize this. Consequently, he warned that such public dissent removes a manager’s “protection.” This becomes dangerous if results on the pitch begin to falter.
A Risky Strategy
Chelsea currently sits fourth in the Premier League. However, inconsistent performances have kept the manager under scrutiny.
Rooney contrasted Maresca’s isolated position with Ruben Amorim at Manchester United. Amorim recently received public backing from his club’s co-owners.
Rooney speculated on the motives behind Maresca’s outburst. He suggests the manager might feel his job is under threat. Therefore, he might be attacking proactively.
“I don’t feel like he’s a manager that will backtrack. He has got a passion about him,” Rooney said. “Whether he has heard things, like the club might want him out… you don’t know why he’s done it. It’s very strange.”
The Consequences
Rooney concluded that the outburst has damaged the relationship between the manager and the board.
“I don’t think he’ll get the protection now he’s come out and done what he has done. That will be very difficult for the club,” he stated.
Ultimately, Rooney emphasized a key rule. Managers must respect club owners. He warned that Maresca’s decision to go public could backfire if the team suffers further setbacks.
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